Snow to pick up at night in Shelton, leading to ‘near blizzard conditions’

A snowplow on Center Street in downtown Shelton on Thursday morning, at the beginning of the snowstorm.

Light snow is expected to continue for most of the day in Shelton before the snowstorm gets stronger tonight, Jan. 2, lasting into Friday morning.

A winter storm warning went into effect for southwestern Connecticut early Thursday morning and remains until Friday, Jan. 3 at 1 p.m.

Six to 10 inches of snow could fall in the area, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Other forecasts say there could be more than a foot of the snow in some areas, depending on how the storm moves through the region.

Vehicles travel on lower Bridgeport Avenue in Shelton on Thursday morning, with about a half inch of snow on the ground.

As of about 11 a.m., about a half-inch was on the ground in Shelton, with the snow intensity expected to pick up considerably this evening and into the overnight hours.

The Shelton public school system has announced an early dismissal Thursday.

On Thursday morning, the storm stretched from Arkansas to Maine.

Hersam Acorn Radio storm coverage

Hersam Acorn Radio will provide live coverage of the storm, from area closings, traffic, area road conditions and news from all over southwestern Connecticut.

The first broadcast is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, followed by early morning coverage on Friday, Jan. 3 of school closings, traffic and more.

You can tune in at SheltonHerald.com on your computer, smartphone or tablet (check the upper right of your screen).

‘Near blizzard conditions’ late tonight

The worst of the storm, which the weather service said could be “near blizzard conditions,” are forecast for Thursday evening into Friday morning.

“One to two inches are forecast through the Thursday morning rush hour, followed by a lull,” said the NWS. “The most significant period of snow will redevelop by Thursday evening and continue into Friday morning.”

Strong wind gusts

With winds of 10 to 20 mph — and gusts up to 35 mph — the blowing snow could lead to visibility of less than a quarter of a mile, the NWS said. The could make the wind chills fall to zero and below late Thursday and could be down to 15-below-zero by Friday morning.

Blizzard warnings have been issued, across Long Island Sound, for all of Long Island, N.Y.